Crooked I Recalls Meeting Estranged Father For The First Time

Slaughterhouse emcee Crooked I, recently sat down with Hip Hop DX and discussed some very personal matters regarding his life behind closed doors away from music. He recalled the first time he met his father since he had left him when he was around 5 years old. Crooked I, legally known as Dominick Wickliffe, realized for the first time after seeing his father again that he had become successful without the guidance that a father can provide for his son. Despite feeling anger that his father left him, he was also overcome with a feeling of self satisfaction.

Here is what Crooked I told Hip Hop DX when he was asked when did he first realize that he was successful:

"The first time, dog? I'ma be totally honest with you. My father, he didn't raise me, he left when I was like five or whatever. The next time I saw him was like 20 years later. I always had some negative thoughts about him. Whatever. We were standing outside of my uncle's house in Carson, California and we were talking. He didn't recognize me, by the way. When I was inside the house, he didn't know who the f*ck I was but once he realized that I was his son, we went outside and we were talking and sh*t. Now, I always thought that I would be on some bullsh*t like, "You know what? I'ma snuff this ni**a as soon as I see him." I looked in the driveway, bro. I had a white BMW on some rims and sh*t. I was like, "Damn, I got this. I have my own house in a cool neighborhood now. I'm taking care of myself and of the people I love. I did alright without dude." I think that's the first time that I felt successful. Before that, my idea of success was 10 million sold, seven mansions all over the world. That was my idea of success. But when I took a look at it on some real life sh*t, I was like, "Damn, I did okay for myself without a father." That was the first day I realized success is what you think success is. It's not what other people tell you. People hit me on Twitter like, "Do you feel bad because somebody else is more successful than you? Do you feel bad that you're not successful?" Hold on. I had one job when I was 16 and that was my only job. I haven't had a job since then. All I've done since then was hustle and make music and I can't say that I'm not successful. I can't even name one f*ckin' car that I haven't bought. That's my definition of success. That might not be their definition of success. Their definition might be somebody like my boss, Eminem. One hundred million records sold? Hey, that is success but I'm just saying. Me coming from nothing and now being able to take care of myself and being able to say, "Hey mom. You okay? You need something?" That's successful to me and I won't let anybody else ever define what success is to me."